The Vermont Long Trail 2023 (Week 2)

#longtrail #vermont #greenmountains
My name is Tony. I enjoy long walks along the trail, love tree burls, and have a squeaky backpack.
I thru hiked the Long Trail over 21 days during July and August 2023. This video captures my second week on the trail covering Mile 104 to Mile 184, from US Route 4 to US Route 2.
I almost cried when upon returning home, I discovered my camera settings were inadvertently adjusted, resulting in footage quality well below my expectations. Washed out colors at times and grainy footage in low light. It took a while, but I’m over it. I made adjustments during editing to improve the quality.
I take time to record and edit these videos so one day when I’m an old(er) man, I can sit back relive my younger days. In addition, I hope others who love to plan trips like I do over the winter months can possibly gain something from watching. I attempted to capture the reality of the trail with its beauty and challenges, along with interactions with fellow hikers. To aid folks pouring over maps and the guidebook, I added shelter names, road crossings and other points of interest as captions.
Well, I hope you enjoy the video, and it doesn’t suck too bad. LOL

[@mikestevenson4101]

Thanks for the second video, inspiring for sure. So nice to get above treeline after hiking the green:) Do you prefer to hike solo or with friends if you had a choice?

[@twotonadk]

Boy, that’s a tough one. I do love the company of my friends, but equally enjoy being alone. The perfect balance would be to hike for a week and friends show up for a couple days, repeat, repeat. I think it’s really important to be alone in the woods for extended periods of time. You more intently observe and soak in nature, and really process your thoughts.

[@dasnipa82]

I love the 2 videos so far. Last summer I made it up to the last 20 miles (section hiking), but needed to push out my final 2-day section until summer '24. These videos have been great for revisiting the trail and getting me excited to get back out there!

[@twotonadk]

Awesome sauce! Good luck finishing this year.👊🏼😁

[@samuelcrafts3657]

At 12:07, when you were at sunset ledge you say “that doesn’t suck at all does it?” It was me who answered “no it does not”. I’m planning my own end-to-ender for July, crazy coincidence!

[@twotonadk]

Bahahaha!!! I love chance encounters like this.😂 I wish you the best. Hiking the LT was a challenging, enjoyable, and rewarding journey. Go get it!👊🏼😁

[@KatieValleyBourdeau]

Great video! I've done a lot of this up to Lincoln Gap. I'm heading out to do Lincoln Gap to Appalachian Gap this week. Your vlog was very helpful! Great job!

[@twotonadk]

@@KatieValleyBourdeau I’m glad you enjoyed it and found it helpful. Enjoy your time in the mountains!😁

[@KatieValleyBourdeau]

​@twotonadk just got back from backpacking App Gap over Camel Hump to Duxbury NOBO. I must say it was pretty traumatic. Burnt Rock was tough, but that Rsvine Ladder was traumatic. I cannot believe I even did it. I am still having nightmares. That entire 20 mile section was very challenging gjng and difficult. Next, I will be hiking from Duxbury over Mansfield. I skipped mile 1 to 100 NOBO, because I plan on hiking the AT next March. So now I have completed miles 100-181. Anything coming up that is as scary as Burnt Rock and Ravine Ladder? I'm terrified of heights and hanging onto to ledges. Lol. Steep is fine.

[@twotonadk]

@@KatieValleyBourdeau if exposure bothers you, the ravine ladder is probably the worst because you have to go down the ladder heading NOBO. Three are more ladders and bunch of Mansfield, but you’re climbing, not descending. If exposure bothers you, that makes a HUGE difference in comfort. I loved the hike up Mansfield and wouldn’t skip it. The climb, followed by the long open ridge walk was one of my favorite days on the trail. Just send it!😁

[@laurawagner9637]

This was also an awesome video, I didn’t think it could get better after the first video but the day you did the ridge walk with all the views and the sunset looked epic. Definitely doing this trail NOBO in the future

[@twotonadk]

The ridge walk from Abraham to Ellen, and then to Glen Ellen Lodge was one of my favorite hiking experiences. Golden hour/sunset with the mountain breeze was awesome.😊

[@Teedubsadventures]

Great video, Tony!! That was a pretty rugged stretch of trail and you captured it well!! 💯

[@twotonadk]

Thank you Tony! Yeah, the ruggedness factor gets cranked up after Waterbury Gap and keeps on cranking to the end! 😂😂😂

[@KatieValleyBourdeau]

You must be tall, because you made going down that ladder so easy. I could not reach that rock step you were on. I had to hold on to the base of the tree for dear life, slide down until my feet landed on the top wrung of the ladder and then turned myself around and then let go of one hand and the other and put on the ladder. By the time I got to the bottom my legs were shaking....jello! Never again!

[@twotonadk]

@@KatieValleyBourdeau haha you did it!😂

[@davidwalker6043]

I’m from VT. Recently have decided I want to do more hiking and want to tackle the LT in sections. Curious how the bugs were and what you did to manage them at night. Thanks for posting your experience, it’s been fun to watch.

[@twotonadk]

Bugs were not a problem except for a few locations. At night when bugs are bad, you crawl inside your tent. Worth every pound to be able to escape. I can tolerate bugs during the day and don’t really react to bites. At night however, they can be infuriating!😂

[@scottfrazier3050]

Go Two Ton Tony!🇺🇸🍻

[@twotonadk]

Thanks brother!😁

[@AdirondackAdventures]

Awesome trip, man! Don't you love that section thru Abraham to Ellen. I made a video of that section of your hike on my channel too.

[@twotonadk]

It was one of my best hiking experiences. Everything aligned. Golden hour and sunset, the breeze, temperature, clouds. It was quite special.😊

[@stephaniewobbe808]

Beautiful!!!

[@twotonadk]

Sure is.😊

[@audiosaurus6511]

It is great to see the section you don't do on the AT.

[@twotonadk]

Glad you enjoyed it. I met a multiple time AT thru hiker (Bear Paw) during my third week and he was humbled that he couldn’t make his miles like usual. That gave good perspective.

[@Gorneault84]

Curious, what was the exact timing of your trip and how were the mosquitos and flies at that time?

[@twotonadk]

Last week of July through the first two weeks of August. Bugs weren’t really an issue, with the exception of Greenwall Shelter where the mosquitoes were pretty awful. Bugs can be so variable that it’s hard to plan a hike around them, with the exception of black fly season. Even then, I just tend to find ways to tolerate them.🤷🏻‍♂️😂

[@GabagoolFool]

How many resupplies and where did you send them ? What about fuel cans? Did you send them in the mail or rely on finding them in town

[@twotonadk]

I used two 8 ounce fuel cans for my 3 week trip. A boil for breakfast and dinner with an occasional extra cup of coffee. I had one when I set out, and had a second in my first resupply package. I carried an initial 6.5 days of food and then had my first resupply sent to The Inn at the Long Trail. You could resupply in Rutland using free bus that has a stop at the Inn. I then took a nero in Waterbury and resupplied at a local supermarket. My last resupply was at the Dollar General in Johnson where I just came off trail for that propose…and a burger and beer at Moogs. 😁

[@jaycreature3893]

I just watched both videos...... now I HATE you. I need to get motivated because THAT LOOKED AWESOME!!!!! in retrospect do you have feelings or advise as far NB vs SB ???

[@twotonadk]

Bahaha! I I have only done NOBO. If I did it again, I would do it NOBO as well. The first hundred miles are less challenging terrain and allow you to work your hiker legs into shape for the remaining northern section. It gets noticeably more challenging after Middlebury Gap. Also huge factor is the finish. IMO, it’s way more rewarding to end at the monument on the Canadian border than at a wooden sign at a mudhole at the VT/MA state line.😂

[@jaycreature3893]

@@twotonadk awesome intel. I love all your videos. Very motivational. Great work on all of them. I live in the Catskills so it’s awesome to view the ADK videos.

[@twotonadk]

@@jaycreature3893 thanks dude. The older ones are pretty tough, but that’s how you learn. I appreciate the feedback. Have a great day!😁